JP5114697B2 - Game ball payout device in gaming machine - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a game ball payout device used for a prize ball payout device for game machines, a game ball (rental ball) lending device, and the like, and more specifically, it flows into the game ball payout passage from an upstream passage. The present invention relates to a game ball payout device for paying game balls one by one to a downstream discharge passage at a predetermined timing by a sprocket (also referred to as a ball cutting machine) driven by a stepping motor.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, game balls, for example, prize ball payout devices include those shown in FIGS. In this prize ball payout device, prize balls P1, P2,... Sent from the ball inlet 1 are a first vertical passage 2 extending substantially vertically and an arc passage continuing to the lower end of the first vertical passage 2. 3 and a second vertical passage 5 that is perpendicular to the lower end of the circular arc passage 3 and that has a discharge port 4 at the lower end.

At this time, the lowermost prize ball P1 enters the recess 7a of the sprocket 7 rotating around the horizontal axis 6 so that a part of the arc passage 3 is exposed, as shown in FIG. The next prize ball P2 is placed on the top so as to be in contact therewith.
When the sprocket 7 rotates in this state, as shown in FIG. 11 (b), the prize ball P 1 is sent out from the arc passage 3 toward the payout port 4, and the prize ball P 2 descends so as to contact the outer periphery of the sprocket 7.
Further, when the sprocket 7 rotates, the prize ball P1 naturally falls in the second vertical passage toward the payout port 4 as shown in FIG. On the other hand, the prize ball P2 moves so as to enter the next recess 7b, and finally enters the recess 7b and supports the next prize ball P3 (not shown) on the upper part thereof. Thereafter, the same operation is repeated.

  In this prize ball payout device, when the rotational speed of the stepping motor is increased to increase the payout speed of the prize balls P1, P2,... By the sprocket 7, each concave portion of the sprocket 7 where the prize balls roll one by one. It becomes difficult to securely enter 7a, 7b, and 7c. As a result, the number of payouts per predetermined time cannot be increased, the number of payouts per predetermined time becomes unstable, and any winning ball is sandwiched between the vicinity of the recesses 7a to 7c and the inner surface of the circular arc passage 3. In some cases, it was impossible to pay out each prize ball.

On the other hand, there has been proposed a prize ball payout device that smoothly pays out prize balls. In the prize ball dispensing device shown in FIGS. 12A and 12B, the prize balls P1, P2, P3,... It passes through the vertical passage 9 continuing to the lower end of the inclined passage 8 and drops to the dispensing port 4.
The sprocket 10 shown in FIG. 12 has three arc-shaped notches 10a, 10b, and 10c, and each arc-shaped notch 10a, 10b, and 10c has a wide opening, so that the rotation speed of the sprocket 10 is increased. Can receive the award ball reliably and pay it out downstream.

However, since this sprocket 10 is supported by a plurality of other upstream award balls P2 and P3 on the award ball P1 received by one circular arc notch 10a, a plurality of upstream award balls P1. , P2 and P3 act as a load for rotating the sprocket 10.
For this reason, when the rotation of the sprocket 10 is stopped by the stepping motor, the stop position becomes unstable, or the sprocket 10 rotates due to the weight of the prize ball and is paid out even when it is not paid out.

  Further, in the prize ball payout device having the inclined passage 8 and the vertical passage 9 similar to the above, as shown in FIGS. 13 and 14, the sprockets 11 and 12 each having four ball receiving portions 11a and 12a are used. Also, the number of payout of the winning balls per rotation of the sprockets 11 and 12 is increased, the rotation of the sprockets 11 and 12 is delayed, and the receiving of the winning balls into the ball receiving portions 11a and 12a is ensured. Proposed. However, the prize ball payout device shown in FIGS. 13 and 14 also has the problem described in FIG.

  Thus, in any of the prize ball payout devices shown in FIGS. 11 to 14, the load of the prize ball on the upstream side of the sprockets 7, 10, 11, 12 causes the sprockets 7, 10, 11, 12 to rotate. Therefore, when the stop after the prize ball is paid out, the stop position is not stable, or the extra rotation causes the number of payout to become uneven, and the sprocket 7 shown in FIGS. , 12, there is a limit to increasing the rotational speed of the sprockets 7, 12.

Therefore, as a prize ball payout apparatus for solving such a problem, a prize ball payout apparatus in which a flow-down preventing member having a spiral hook (screw) formed in the periphery is arranged in a ball guide passage is provided. (For example, refer to Patent Documents 1 and 2).
Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 5-5181 Japanese Patent No. 2669491

  The prize ball dispensing device provided with the flow-down prevention member (screw) receives the prize ball flowing down in the passage with the flow-down prevention member and rotates it to the downstream side by a spiral hook (spiral blade of the screw). Is. Therefore, the load that tries to rotate the flow-preventing member loaded from the award ball on the upstream side through the award ball placed on the spiral flange only acts as a component force. The stop position at the end of the payout is stable, and it is preferable because it can be reliably held by a small stepping motor without causing rotation due to the weight of the prize ball.

  However, since this flow-preventing member has a spiral saddle (screw spiral blade), if the timing of rotation of the flow-preventing member is bad, the end of the spiral saddle collides with the sphere, There is a problem that the sphere is not smoothly flowed into the taxiway. In order to prevent this, there is a method to reduce the thickness of the buttock as much as possible, but since the space formed between the balls to be paid out is reduced accordingly, the prize balls to be paid out are accurately counted. May become difficult.

  The present invention solves the conventional problem as described above, and when the sprocket is stopped, the weight of the game ball (prize ball, rental ball) upstream from the sprocket does not act as a load for rotating the sprocket. In addition, the sprocket can be stabilized when the stepping motor is stopped, and at the time of rotation, the high-speed rotation is assisted to reduce the load on the stepping motor, thereby increasing the payout speed of winning balls and rental balls. The purpose is to obtain a ball dispensing device.

In order to achieve the above object, a game ball payout device according to the present invention is driven by a stepping motor provided in the game ball payout passage so that a game ball flows into the game ball payout passage from an upstream passage. A game ball payout device for paying out a predetermined number of game balls to a downstream passage through a sprocket,
The game ball payout passage is composed of an upper vertical passage having a ball inlet, an inclined passage continuing from the upper vertical passage through an arcuate passage, a continuous from the inclined passage, a sprocket facing, and a game received by the sprocket. A guide passage for guiding a sphere, and a lower vertical passage continuing to the guide passage,
The inclined passage includes a first inclined passage in which a game ball received by the sprocket is located, and a second inclined passage in which a game ball located immediately upstream of the game ball received by the sprocket is located. And more
The first inclined passage has an inclination in which the weight of the game ball held by the sprocket acts downward from the center of the sprocket, and the sprocket has a rotation direction in which the weight of the game ball received acts below the center of the sprocket. In that position opposite,
The second inclined passage is located at the center of the sprocket so that the weight of the game ball located immediately upstream of the game ball held by the sprocket is more than the position at which the weight of the game ball held by the sprocket acts on the sprocket. It has a slope that works downward,
The guide passage has an arc shape centered at a position offset in the direction of the lower vertical passage from the center of the sprocket at a portion connecting the first inclined passage and the lower vertical passage,
The sprocket is formed by continuously forming four game ball sorting protrusions with a width narrowing toward the tip and four linear ball receiving portions having a long ball receiving length continuous to the outer periphery. Features.

With this configuration, the weight of the game ball carried by the sprocket acts below the center of the sprocket, and the weight of the game ball upstream of the upper vertical passage is reduced as a component force in the arc-shaped passage. Therefore, the weight of the game ball, for example, the prize ball on the sprocket is reduced, and the state of the sprocket when stopped can be stabilized.
In addition, the second inclined passage is arranged so that the weight of the game ball located immediately upstream of the game ball held by the sprocket is further increased than the position at which the weight of the game ball held by the sprocket acts on the sprocket. Since the slope acts on the lower side of the center of the ball, the game ball received by the sprocket acts so that the weight of the upstream game ball is pushed out in the direction of rotation. The load can be reduced.
Furthermore, the sprocket is formed by continuously forming four game ball sorting protrusions having a width narrowing toward the tip and four direct ball receiving portions having a long ball receiving length continuous to the outer periphery. Also, the guide passage where the sprocket is located is an arcuate passage centered at a position connecting the first inclined passage and the lower vertical passage to the lower vertical passage direction from the center of the sprocket. Even when the sprocket is rotating at high speed, the game balls can be sent to the downstream side by receiving the game balls immediately upstream and the game balls to be sorted one by one in the straight ball receiving portion. At this time, since the ball receiving portion is a linear shape with a long ball receiving length, it can reliably receive the game ball even at high speed rotation, and at the same time as the inclination of the ball receiving portion starts, the game ball naturally falls. Since the guide passage allows the game ball to fall (pass) to the downstream side from this natural fall state, the game ball can be quickly paid out, and if the ball receiving portion is inclined, the ball receiving portion Since the game ball of this type falls naturally, the game ball does not remain in the ball receiving portion even if the sprocket stops. Further, since the game ball is in a natural fall state simultaneously with the start of the inclination of the ball receiving portion, a sensor for detecting the number of game balls (for example, prize balls) to be paid out may be provided immediately downstream from the start of the natural fall. As a result, it is possible to detect the fall of the game ball (payout determination) from an early position, and to widen the control range.

  In addition, the sprocket of the game ball payout device according to the present invention is located on a virtual line extending radially at an interval of 90 degrees from the center and is provided with a game ball distribution protrusion, which is determined by the distribution angle θ of the distribution protrusion. A linear ball receiving portion having a long ball receiving length to the top of the next sorting projection in the rotation direction at a predetermined interval is provided.

  With this configuration, even at high speed rotation, the game balls can be sorted from the upstream game balls and placed one by one on the straight ball receiving portion, and at the same time as the inclination of the ball receiving portion starts, It becomes a state, and it is possible to pay out game balls at high speed.

The game ball payout device according to the present invention is characterized in that an annular groove is formed at the center in the thickness direction of the outer periphery of the sprocket.
With this configuration, the prize ball on the annular groove can be lowered while rolling the central portion of the payout passage, and it is possible to avoid the prize ball from becoming unstable due to interference with the periphery of the prize ball.

In addition, the inclined passage of the game ball dispensing apparatus according to the present invention is characterized in that the inclination angle of the first inclined passage is approximately 35 degrees and the inclination angle of the second inclined passage is approximately 30 degrees.
With this configuration, the weight of the game ball received by the sprocket acts below the center of the sprocket, and the weight of the game ball positioned immediately upstream of the game ball received by the sprocket is applied to the sprocket. The weight of the game ball thus held is further lowered from the sprocket center than the position where it acts on the sprocket.

Further, the game ball payout device according to the present invention is such that the game ball payout ball is located near the position of the guide passage where the game ball held by the sprocket starts to fall naturally from the ball receiving portion toward the lower vertical passage. A detection sensor is provided.
With this configuration, when the ball receiving portion starts to tilt, the game ball of the ball receiving portion changes from the position to the natural fall position. Therefore, a sensor is provided downstream immediately after the start of the natural fall, and the game is dropped (paid out). The ball can be detected, and the control of the payout speed of the game ball can be optimized based on the result of counting the number of payout of the game ball.

According to the game ball payout device of the present invention, the following effects can be obtained.
(1) It is possible to reduce the fact that the weight of the game ball upstream of the sprocket acts as a load on the sprocket, and to stabilize the stop state of the stepping motor for driving the sprocket.
(2) The game ball held by the sprocket acts so that the weight of the upstream game ball is pushed in the rotation direction, so that the starting load can be reduced when the stepping motor is started, and high speed During rotation, high-speed rotation can be performed smoothly.

  (3) The sprocket can be rotated at high speed, and the game balls can be received by the straight protrusions, and the game balls can be received one by one in the straight ball receiving portion and sent to the downstream side. At this time, since the ball receiving portion is a linear shape with a long ball receiving length, it can reliably receive the game ball even at high speed rotation, and at the same time as the inclination of the ball receiving portion starts, the game ball naturally falls. Since the guide passage allows the game ball to fall (pass) to the downstream side from this natural fall state, the game ball can be quickly paid out, and if the ball receiving portion is inclined, the ball receiving portion Since the game ball of this type falls naturally, even if the sprocket stops, the game ball does not remain in the inclined ball receiving portion.

  (4) Since the sprocket is in a natural fall state of the game ball simultaneously with the start of the inclination of the ball receiving portion, the sensor for detecting the number of game balls (for example, prize balls) to be paid is immediately downstream from the start of the natural fall. Therefore, it is possible to detect the fall of the game ball (payout determination) from an early position, and the control range can be widened.

  (5) Since an annular groove is formed in the central portion of the outer periphery of the sprocket in the thickness direction, the game ball can be lowered while rolling the central portion of the passage to avoid interference with the peripheral portion of the game ball. The flow of game balls can be stabilized.

  Hereinafter, a game ball payout device according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. 1 and 2 are a perspective view and an exploded perspective view showing a game ball payout device according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 3 is a side view for explaining the game ball payout device according to the embodiment of the present invention.

  The game ball payout device (hereinafter referred to as payout device) 20 includes a game ball payout passage (hereinafter referred to as payout passage) 21 and a sprocket 28 disposed so that at least a part thereof faces the payout passage 21. And a stepping motor 27 for driving the sprocket 28, and a game ball (for example, a prize ball) that has flowed into the payout passage 21 from the upstream passage is received by the stepping motor 27 provided facing the payout passage 21. This is a device that pays out a predetermined number to the downstream passage through the driven sprocket 28.

The discharge passage 21 has an upper vertical passage 22 having a spherical inflow port 22a, an inclined passage 24 continuous from the upper vertical passage 22 via an arcuate passage 23, and continues from the inclined passage 24, and a sprocket 28 is faced. A guide passage 25 that guides the game ball received by the sprocket 28 and a lower vertical passage 26 continuous with the guide passage 25 are provided.
The inclined passage 24 has a first inclined passage 24a where the game ball P1 received by the sprocket is located, and a game ball P2 which is in contact with the game ball P1 received by the sprocket and located immediately upstream thereof. The second inclined passage 24b.

The first inclined passage 24a is inclined such that the weight of the game ball P1 received by the sprocket 28 acts below the center 29 of the sprocket 28 (for example, works as shown by line A in FIG. 3). The weight of the received game ball P1 is provided at a position where the weight of the game ball P1 acts below the center 29 of the sprocket 28.
The second inclined passage 24b is configured such that the weight of the game ball P2 located on the upstream side in contact with the game ball P1 received by the sprocket 28 is equal to the weight of the game ball P1 received by the sprocket 28. Inclination that acts further downward than the center 29 of the sprocket 28 from the position that acts on (see line B in FIG. 3).
Specifically, as shown in FIG. 3, when the inclination of the first inclined passage 24a is approximately 35 degrees with respect to the horizontal line as shown in FIG. 3, the inclination of the second inclined passage 24b is the angle formed with respect to the horizontal line. It is about 30 degrees.

  The guide passage 25 has a radius centered at a position M offset from the center 29 of the sprocket 28 toward the lower vertical passage 26 at a portion connecting the first inclined passage 24a and the lower vertical passage 26 as shown in FIG. It has an arcuate shape of R.

As shown in FIG. 5, the sprocket 28 has a game ball sorting projection (hereinafter referred to as a sorting projection) 28a whose width becomes narrower toward the tip, and a linear ball catcher having a long ball receiving length H continuous thereto. Four portions 28b are continuously formed on the outer periphery. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 5, a sorting projection 28a is provided on a virtual line Y extending radially at an interval of 90 degrees from the center, and a rising surface of the sorting projection 28a is approximately 120 degrees. A linear ball receiving portion 28b having a long ball receiving length H to the top of the next sorting projection 28a is provided in the rotational direction at intervals, and four linear ball receiving portions 28b are continuously formed on the outer periphery.
When this sprocket 28 is provided with an annular groove 30 at the center in the thickness direction as shown in FIGS. 6 (a) and 6 (b), the game ball P is inserted into the annular groove as shown in FIG. 6 (b). 30 can guide the sprocket 28 to the center in the thickness direction, so that it is possible to secure a stable flow of the game ball P in the passage, which is preferable. Of course, a sprocket 28 as shown in FIG.
The distribution protrusion 28a functions to allow the game balls P1 that have flown into the ball receiving portion 28b of the sprocket 28 to be separated from the game balls P2 immediately upstream of the game balls P1 and to receive them. (See FIG. 5) is 5 degrees or around.
Thereby, the space | interval of the game balls P1 and P2 can be ensured, and the measurement by the sensor 32 can be ensured.
In this embodiment, a case is shown in which a ball receiving portion 28b is provided from the sorting projection 28a to the top of the next sorting projection 28a in the rotation direction at an interval of about 120 degrees. The distance between the sorting projection 28a and the ball receiving portion 28b is determined by the sorting angle θ of the sorting projection 28a, and is not limited to this. When the distribution angle θ of the distribution protrusion 28a is about 5 degrees, the interval is about 120 degrees.

  The sprocket 28 is attached to the rotating shaft 27 a of the stepping motor 27 and is rotated by the stepping motor 27. The rotating shaft 27a is rotatably supported by a bearing (not shown). The sprocket 28 may be directly attached to the rotating shaft 27a of the stepping motor 27, or a gear may be interposed therebetween. When the gear is interposed, the amount of rotation (rotation angle) of the sprocket 28 can be adjusted.

Therefore, according to the payout device 20, the first inclined passage 24a has an inclination in which the weight of the game ball P1 received by the sprocket 28 acts below the center 29 of the sprocket 28, and the sprocket 28 has received it. Since the weight of the game ball P1 is provided at a position where it acts below the center 29 of the sprocket 28, the weight of the game ball P1 received by the sprocket 28 acts below the center 29 of the sprocket 28, Moreover, since the weight of the game ball upstream of the upper vertical passage 22 is reduced as a component force in the arc-shaped passage 23, the weight of the game ball, for example, a prize ball on the sprocket 28 is reduced, and the sprocket at the time of stoppage is reduced. 28 states can be stabilized.
In addition, the second inclined passage 24b is configured such that the weight of the game ball P2 positioned on the upstream side in contact with the game ball P1 held by the sprocket 28 is the weight of the game ball P1 held by the sprocket 28. Since the inclination is such that it acts further downward from the center 29 of the sprocket 28 than the position acting on the sprocket 28, the weight of the upstream game ball is pushed out in the rotation direction to the game ball P 1 held by the sprocket 28. Therefore, when the stepping motor 27 is activated, the activation load can be reduced, and high-speed rotation can be smoothly performed during rotation.

Further, the sprocket 28 is formed by continuously forming four sorting protrusions 28a whose width is narrowed toward the tip and four direct ball receiving portions 28b having a long ball receiving length H that are continuous with the sorting protrusions 28a. The guide passage 25 where the sprocket 28 is located is centered at a position M offset from the center 29 of the sprocket 28 toward the lower vertical passage 26 at a portion connecting the first inclined passage 24a and the lower vertical passage 26. Therefore, even if the sprocket 28 rotates at high speed, the game balls are distributed by the distribution projections 28a, and the game balls immediately upstream and the distribution game balls are received accurately one by one in the linear ball receiving portion 28b. It can be sent out downstream. At this time, since the ball receiving portion 28b is linear, the game ball is in a natural falling state simultaneously with the start of the inclination of the ball receiving portion 28b, and the guide passage 25 is dropped to the downstream side of the game ball from this natural falling state ( Allow the game ball to be quickly paid out, and if the ball receiving portion 28b is tilted, the game ball of the ball receiving portion 28b naturally falls, so even if the sprocket 28 stops. In this state, the game ball does not remain in the ball receiving portion 28b.

Further, since the game ball is in a natural fall state simultaneously with the start of the inclination of the ball receiving portion 28b, a sensor for detecting the number of game balls (for example, prize balls) to be paid out is provided immediately downstream from the start of the natural fall. Thus, it is possible to detect the fall of the game ball (payout determination) from an early position, and to widen the control range.
In the drawing, reference numeral 32 denotes a detection sensor for a payout ball, and 33 denotes a detection position for the payout ball.
Here, when the stepping motor 27 has a step angle of 7.5 degrees and is controlled by two-phase or 1-2-phase excitation, even if the stepping motor 27 stops due to some trouble, the game When a ball (prize ball) is in a natural fall state, it is allowed to fall naturally. Thereby, the fall determination can be detected at an early timing, and as a result, the number of game balls with a high payout speed can be accurately measured.

In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4, when the stepping motor 27 controls the rotation of the sprocket 28, the ball receiving portion 28b of the sprocket 28 is controlled from the horizontal state by 7.5 degrees (two-phase control) By using 3.75 degree control (1-2 phase control), the game ball can be dropped in a state where it is tilted by one step.
In general, since the angle of the upper plate of the game stand is set to 3.5 to 4.0 degrees, in this embodiment, the inclination of the ball receiving portion 28b is set to 3.75 degrees (1-2 phase excitation). The ball can be paid out by natural fall. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 4, the guide passage 25 is a passage having a radius R centered at a point M offset by a predetermined distance from the rotation center 29 of the sprocket 28, and the game ball from a position where the ball receiving portion 28b starts to tilt. Is allowed to pass.

  Therefore, in the payout device 20 having such a configuration, when the stepping motor 27 is stopped, the game ball sent from the ball inlet 22a to the upper vertical passage 22 is moved by the ball receiving portion 28b of the sprocket 28. In addition, the game balls P2 and P3 are superimposed on the game ball P1, but immediately before the stepping motor 27 is stopped, the game ball P4 rolling on the ball receiving portion 28b of the sprocket 28, As shown in FIG. 8 (a), a natural fall occurs due to its own weight.

Next, the stepping motor 27 is further step-driven, and the sprocket 28 is rotated as shown in FIG. In this case, the game ball P1 on the ball receiving portion 28b is lifted in the clockwise direction of the sprocket 28 by the sorting protrusion 28a continuous to the ball receiving portion 28b. At this time, the game ball P2 exerts a load on the game ball P1 in a lateral direction rather than vertically downward, and this load pushes the game ball, so that the sprocket 28 does not have a large load. For this reason, the high-speed rotation of the stepping motor 27 is not hindered.
Then, the game ball P1 moves on the ball receiving portion 28b, and when the sprocket 28 is rotated by the step drive of the subsequent stepping motor 27, the game ball P1 has an upper edge of the sorting projection 28a as shown in FIG. When the sprocket 28 further rotates and the sprocket 28 further rotates, the sorting projection 28a is positioned at the position where the ball receiving portion 28b becomes substantially horizontal, as shown in FIG. 7D, and the upstream game adjacent to the game ball P1. It enters between the balls P2 and distributes both game balls P1 and P2 to the left and right.

Then, by further step rotation of the stepping motor 27, the ball receiving portion 28b is tilted by 3.75 degrees as shown in FIG. 8E, so that the game ball P1 on the ball receiving portion 28b is naturally The ball is allowed to fall, and naturally rolls on the ball receiving portion 28b by its own weight, and the game ball P1 falls into the lower vertical passage 26 from the end of the ball receiving portion 28b.
At this time, since the game ball P1 on the ball receiving portion 28b is in the natural fall state, the immediately downstream side of the ball receiving portion 28b is the detection position 33 of the payout ball detection sensor 32. The number of payout balls (game balls) can be detected at an early time immediately after the start. In addition, since the detected game ball is allowed to fall naturally with the ball receiving portion 28b of the sprocket 28 tilted, it is surely dropped into the lower vertical passage 26 without remaining. In addition, since the ball receiving portion 28b of the sprocket 28 is linear and has a long ball receiving length H, the game ball can be reliably received even if the sprocket 28 rotates at high speed.
For this reason, it is possible to pay out the game balls (payout balls) at a high speed rotation of the sprocket 28, and the number of game balls to be paid out can be reliably detected by the sensor 32. Also, the game ball P1 of the ball receiving portion 28b can be detected as a payout ball by the sensor 32 immediately after the ball receiving portion 28b is inclined and naturally falls, so that the rotation / rotation of the stepping motor 27 rotating at high speed is possible. The stop control timing can be advanced, so that a high-speed payout operation of the game ball can be enabled.

As described above, in the present embodiment, the game ball payout passage 21 includes the upper vertical passage 22 having the ball inflow port 22a, the inclined passage 24 continuous from the upper vertical passage 22 via the arc-shaped passage 23, Continuing from the inclined passage 24, the sprocket 28 faces, and comprises a guide passage 25 for guiding the game ball received by the sprocket 28, and a lower vertical passage 26 continuous to the guide passage 25,
The inclined passage 24 has a first inclined passage 24a where the game ball P1 received by the sprocket 28 is located, and a game ball P2 which is in contact with the game ball P1 received by the sprocket 28 and located immediately upstream thereof. And the second inclined passage 24b where
The first inclined passage 24a has an inclination in which the weight of the game ball P1 held by the sprocket 28 acts below the center 29 of the sprocket 28, and the sprocket 28 has the weight of the game ball P1 received by the center 29 of the sprocket 28. Provided at that position to work on the lower side,
The second inclined passage 24b is configured such that the weight of the game ball P2 positioned on the upstream side in contact with the game ball P1 held by the sprocket 28 is the weight of the game ball P1 received by the sprocket 28. It is inclined to work further downward than the center 29 of the sprocket 28 from the working position,
The guide passage 25 has an arc shape with a radius R centered at a position M offset from the center of the sprocket 28 in the direction of the lower vertical passage 26 at a portion connecting the first inclined passage 24a and the lower vertical passage 26. ,
The sprocket 28 is formed by continuously forming four game ball sorting protrusions 28a having a width narrowing toward the tip and four linear ball receiving portions 28b having a long ball receiving length H continuous to the outer periphery. It is.

Therefore, when the payout of the game ball (for example, a prize ball) is finished and the stepping motor 27 is stopped, the first game ball P1 to be paid out is at the position of the ball receiving portion 28b of the sprocket 28 as shown in FIG. The game balls P2, P3,... Follow the upstream side of the game balls P2, P3,..., But the sprocket 28 is fixed by the weight of the game balls P1, P2,. .
When the stepping motor 27 rotates and reaches the angle of the sprocket 28 as shown in FIG. 9B, the game ball P2 immediately upstream of the game ball P1 on the ball receiving portion 28b comes to the top of the sorting protrusion 28a. However, since the distribution protrusion 28a has a width of the distribution angle θ (see FIG. 5), the movement of the game ball P2 is stopped for a moment. Even if the stepping motor 27 stops at this angle, the game balls P2 and P3 and the weight of the ball following the upstream work on the width of the distribution angle θ (see FIG. 5), and the sprocket cannot rotate. Thus, the game ball P1 on the ball receiving portion 28b is fixed and cannot move while being sandwiched between the periphery of the guide passage 25 and the ball. By further rotating, the game balls P1 and P2 can be reliably distributed by the distribution protrusion 28a. Further, when the sprocket 28 is stopped at an angle as shown in FIG. 10 and there is no inflow of game balls, the inflowing game balls are fixed at the top of the sorting protrusion 28a.
Further, the game ball payout device 20 can reduce the load on the sprocket 28 due to its own weight, stabilize the sprocket 28 when the stepping motor 27 is stopped, and stably increase the payout speed of the game ball. be able to.

  The present invention reduces the load on the sprocket due to the weight of the game ball, makes it possible to stabilize the stop state of the sprocket and to smoothly start the drive, and to quickly and stably increase the payout speed of the game ball. It is possible to use a sprocket driven by a stepping motor for a prize ball or a lending ball payout device that pays out game balls one by one at a predetermined timing by a sprocket driven by a stepping motor. is there.

It is a perspective view which shows the game ball payout apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a disassembled perspective view which shows the game ball payout apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a side view explaining the game ball payout device by an embodiment of the invention. It is a side view explaining the guide channel | path of the game ball payout apparatus by embodiment of this invention. It is a front view which shows a sprocket. It is the perspective view (a) and side view (b) which show a sprocket. It is a perspective view which shows another sprocket. It is explanatory drawing which shows the operation | movement process of a game ball payout apparatus by order (a) (b) (c) (d) (e). It is explanatory drawing (a) (b) explaining the effect | action of a game ball payout apparatus. It is explanatory drawing explaining another effect | action of a game ball payout apparatus. It is explanatory drawing which shows the conventional game ball payout apparatus in action order (a) (b) (c). It is explanatory drawing which shows another conventional game ball payout apparatus in order of operation (a) (b). It is explanatory drawing which shows another conventional game ball payout apparatus. Furthermore, it is explanatory drawing which shows the other conventional game ball payout apparatus.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 20 Game ball payout apparatus 21 Game ball payout path 22 Upper vertical path 23 Arc-shaped path 24 Inclined path 24a 1st inclined path 24b 2nd inclined path 25 Guide path 26 Lower vertical path 27 Stepping motor 27a Rotating shaft of stepping motor 28 Sprocket 28a Game ball distribution projection 28b Ball receiving portion 29 Sprocket center 30 Annular groove 32 Discharge ball (game ball) detection sensor 33 Discharge ball (game ball) detection position

Claims (5)

A game ball which pays out a predetermined number of game balls to a downstream passage through a sprocket driven by a stepping motor provided facing the game ball discharge passage from the upstream passage to the game ball discharge passage The dispensing device of
The game ball payout passage is composed of an upper vertical passage having a ball inlet, an inclined passage continuing from the upper vertical passage through an arcuate passage, a continuous from the inclined passage, a sprocket facing, and a game received by the sprocket. A guide passage for guiding a sphere, and a lower vertical passage continuing to the guide passage,
The inclined passage includes a first inclined passage in which a game ball received by the sprocket is located, and a second inclined passage in which a game ball located immediately upstream of the game ball received by the sprocket is located. And more
The first inclined passage has an inclination in which the weight of the game ball held by the sprocket acts downward from the center of the sprocket, and the sprocket has a rotation direction in which the weight of the game ball received acts below the center of the sprocket. In that position opposite,
The second inclined passage is located at the center of the sprocket so that the weight of the game ball located immediately upstream of the game ball held by the sprocket is more than the position at which the weight of the game ball held by the sprocket acts on the sprocket. It has a slope that works downward,
The guide passage has an arc shape centered at a position offset in the direction of the lower vertical passage from the center of the sprocket at a portion connecting the first inclined passage and the lower vertical passage,
The sprocket is formed by continuously forming four game ball sorting protrusions with a width narrowing toward the tip and four linear ball receiving portions having a long ball receiving length continuous to the outer periphery. A featured game ball payout device.   The sprocket is positioned on an imaginary line extending radially at an interval of 90 degrees from the center, and is provided with game ball sorting projections, and in the direction of rotation at intervals determined by the sorting angle θ of the sorting projections. 2. The game ball payout device according to claim 1, further comprising a linear ball receiving portion having a long ball receiving length to the top of the next sorting projection.   The game ball payout device according to claim 1, wherein an annular groove is formed in a central portion of the outer periphery of the sprocket in the thickness direction.   2. The game ball payout device according to claim 1, wherein an inclination angle of the first inclined passage of the inclined passage is approximately 35 degrees, and an inclination angle of the second inclined passage is approximately 30 degrees.   A game ball payout ball detection sensor is provided near the position of the guide passage where the game ball received by the sprocket starts to naturally fall from the ball receiving portion toward the lower vertical passage. The game ball payout device according to claim 1.

Images